Corn-harvesting apparatus



Feb. 19, 1929. l J. WEBB CORN HARvEs'rING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet FiledFeb. 7,

l'l'arney,

Feb. 19, 1929.

J. WEBB conn. HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7, 19'25 5 ets-Sheet 2Fell 19, 1929.

J. WEBB CORN HARVESTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-sheI led Feb- 7. 1925IIIIIIIIIIIlI-Illl Feb. 19, 1929.

Feb. 19, 1929.

J. WEBB CORN HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. '7, 1925 5 Sheets-SheetInvenor.

2- W' Bv a nf,

fufme,

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH WEBB, OF CININNATI, OHIO.

CORN-HARVEBTING APPARATUS.

Application led Febluary 7, 1925. Serial No. 7,684.

My invention relates to im rovements in corn harvesting apparatus. ne ofits objects is to `provide improved `severing means adapted not only tosever the corn stalks but to also re iably sever weeds and vines foundin or near the corn rows, and which are generally more tough anddifficult to sever than the corn stalks. Another object is to provide animproved arrangement of weed cleaning and corn feeding apparatus t0 feedand guide the corn stalks and weeds after being severed into relation totying apparat-us by means of which the corn stalks are tied into bundlesand discharged from the harvesting apparatus at the rear thereof.Another' object is to provide an improved arrangement of intermittentweed cleaning and bundle forming apparatus to feed the corn and weedsaway from the severing means and later to form the corn into separatebundles ready t0 be tied. Another object is to provide improved bundledischarging means. Another object to provide improved pick-up means toiii-atheior straighten up corn stalks which are broken or bent out ofthe corn row, and direct them into the harvesting apparatus. Anotherobject is to provide an improved corn harvesting apparatus adapted to beconveniently turned short or at sharp angles when the ends of the cornrows have been reached in order to conveniently commence upon the next`pair of corn rows. Another object is to provide improved apparatus to'feed and pack, and bunch'the corn stalks preparatory to tying: thebunches. Another object is to provide improved means to automatieall vrelease and carry out the cycle of operations required to tie thebunches and dischar e the bunches from the harvesting apparatus. Anotherobject is to provide an improved general assembly and organization torthe purpose. Another' object is to provide :i corr harvestimrai'iparatus adapted to operate with a miniimun of power, and henceadapted to be drawn and operated by one or two horv Mv invention alsocomprises certain :il ta s ot form and combination and arrangement utcomponents all of which will be fully set forth in the description ofthe ving drawings, in which:

s a plan view ot a corn harvestingr embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. y

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of a ort-ion 0f the apparatus shown in Figs. 1an 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail partly in central sect-i011 of a latch or releasingapparatus employed to trip the shock or bundle tying ap aratus.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of one of t ie latch members of Fig. Ll, partlyin section.

Fig. 6 is a top plan of another of the members sllown'in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the corn severing, feeding, packing,and tying members and their driving members.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detailof the corn severing apparatusdetached.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the movements of one of the cornpacking or bunching members detached. y

Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of dog or latch mechanism employedto lock the tying apparatus in idle position.

y Fig. 12 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Fi g. 11.

Fig. 13 is a bottom lan of a cam employed to release the tying sliaftfrom its idle position.

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail of the same taken on the line 1414 of Fig.13.

Fig. 15 illustrates a modification of the tying,r shaft and memberscarried thereby over that shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view illustrating modification of the drivingmeans shown in Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail of one ot the support-ing`members between the traction wheels and the frame, detached.

Fig. 18 is a detail of a portion of the bundle ejectingr apparatus.

Theaccompanying drawings illustrate the preferred embodiments of myinvention in which 16 represents the` main frame Vof the harvester whichmay comprise a series of parallel channel bars connected together bycrossbars or plates. The frame 16 is supported toward its middle or rear`lend `by means of a plurality of main or driven Wheels 17 the axles otwhich are vertically ad'ustalole relative to the frame 16 to provide`im' adjusting ti t) manana upon the stud shaft 51. The shaft isprovided with a lniter gear 62 meshing with a niiter gear 63 on a Shaft64. The shaft (lll also carries at its opposite end :i sprocket Wheel 65which is driven by means of a sprocket chain 66 from a sprocket wheel 67mounted upon the hub ot one ot' the traction wheels 17 on which theltraine lt is supported. The shaft till journaled in the bore (iS of thecrank arm ti'9by means ot which the vvheel 17 is adjustably mountedrelative to the trame 16 The crank shaft (il) is provided toward itsupper end with two cranks 70 and 71 upon which cranks respectivelvaremounted two corn bunehers` or packers TQ() and Til The endsTQ ot' saidbuncbers are pivotally connected respectively tothe tree ends ot links73 and Tel, which are in turn pivotnlly nrounted upon the knetter shaft75. The tree ends of the bnnchcrs 720 and 721 move in unison over nprescribed path whereby they are introduced through slots in the eideplate `3S into the feed channel 36 and move the corn stalks rearwardlytherein :ind serve to gather the stalker into sncceezsive bundles or.bunches nt the rear ot the Jfeeding channel 36 against a plurality ofremovable bars or gates extending transversely7 across the rear end otthe feed channel The shaft. '60 is also provided with an ott-set 77 toenable a crank arm or bundle ejecting' arm or lever 78 carried b'v theknotter shalt to pass said shat't (i9. The knotter shaft is journalednear opposite ends to the traine 16, and is driven at the saine rate ot'speed as the shaft 60 by means of a gear 79 mounted rigidly upon shaft60 an idler gear 801 on stud shaft 802, and a gear SO journnled in asleeve 84 carried by the trame 16. A screw 85 engaging an annular recess163 `holds the gear S0 against movement endwise.

The relative feeding movements of the weed cleaner lid and the packersor bunchers 7 20 and 721 are so arranged and timed tiret that the feedot' the weed cleaners und the feed ot the packers overlap in the channel36, allowing the members 7520 and 721 to tnke the corn stalks away tronithe members d8. Sete ond, the movements et members LS are so timed asnot to feed corn stalks or weeds :ig'ainet the knotter needle n'bilcsaid needle is extended across the channel 36 in the act ot' tying ebundle. '.lliird` the i"n':-nil er.-- 72() and Till .in taking thestelles frein the members 48 forni the stalks gathered by tivo feedingmovements ot members l into a` relatively larger bunch or bundle andfeed the stalks rmirivardly in channel 36 against i1 tripping arm orgate 95 which is thereby forced away from itsl position across therear-end of channel 36, and thereby initiates one revolution of theknetter shaift to thereby tie and eject the bundle delivered by members720 and 721 at the rear end of the channel 36. The operation oi themembers 720 and 721 also serves the purpose of opening e. gap in thechannel 36 between the bundle being fed by said members and the stalksbeing fed rearwardly by inexnbers 18,at the proper time interval end forthe purpose of providing an open and unobstructed path across channel 36for the passage 'of the knetter needle while trying the bundles re,`iectively.

be tying or knotting mechanism .ier se is not a part of my invention,being o known construction, and comprising a 'c lintlrionl bobbin 81,see Fig. containing a be. lof oord, a curved oscillating needle 82, andn tying or knetter member 83 mounted upon the plo-te 38 and knettershaft 75. The special means employed upon and about the knetter shaft toadapt the knotting mechanism to tightly tie up bundles of corn stalks,which `rire more rigid and unyieldin than the grain bundles to which theknotting mechanism has been heretofore applied, and the tripping `andIntell mechanism and ejector mechanism are n part of my invention. i

The gear by means of which the knetter shaft 75 is driven is seated inla cui `sliaped recess in the hub84 forming part of tlhe f ame 16, andiconfined against movement end wise by a Screw 85 entering an `irnnularrecess 163 in the hub ot' gear 80. Gear 80 is intermittently cluteheditothe shaft 7b by mesme ot a limited movement endwise ofthe shaft 75,which shifts the `clutch member 850 into or out of the path of travel ottheclntch-member 86 earriedby the :gear 80. A stud shaft 87, see Fig. 1,is provided with a .hub 88 and a cani tace 89. A collar 90 provided witha laterally projecting pin 91 is journaled npon the hub 88, and isattached thereto by means ot n coiled spring 92, whereby the collar 90and pin 91 are free to move rotatably to a limited extent relative tothe hub 89` and upon being released will be returned to its originalposition relative to collar 87 by means of the `:p1-ing Mounted upon thestud shaft 87 above the collar 90 "is n collar 94 provided with a pin 93to engage and ride u ,i the cani face 89 ol the collar 88. Collar llflis also provided with an arm or trip gnte595 extending across the rearend of the feeding channel 3G, and with an adjudtnbly spring tcnsionedstud 96 in position to engage a pin 98 .projecting from a cani plate 97mounted rigidly u pon the knetter shalt 75. The pin 91 is also inposition to be intermittently engaged by a cani `)rejection 99 carriedby the cam plate 97 to li t the cam 97 and shaft 75 suflicientlv toVdisengage the clutch niembers und Sti to stop the rotation ot thefshaft75 and also when the gate 95 is forced by a bundle ot corn stalks todisengage the pin 91 from the cam projection 99 and engage clutchmembers 85 and 86 securing tlierelbyone revolution et' the shaft. 75,and thereby tying `a knot inthe cord about the bundle of stalks. pRotation of the segmental goor 100 ot the knetter 83 with the shalt towhich gear 100 is keyed causes the geur 100 to rotate a small initergear 101 journaled to the nieiiiber 83 which is attach-ed rigidly to theplate 38, at en approxiiiiete interval in the extreme limit of movementof the needle, to tie a knot about the bundle oil stalks in a mannerknown in the nrt.

At the upper end of shalt 7 5 is a collar or hub 102 rigidly attached toshaft 75 and located slightly below the upper `iouriial bearing 103 oli'she'lt 75. The hub 102 ha.: :in ai u 104; serving en ejector erin orgate entending normally aci' iss the rea-r end of the leed channel 36.The hub 102 also has an upi 'err ly directed stud or stop pin 105 whichWhei the slieft 75 is in its lower position tree from the bearing;member 103, and which when the shaft 75 is in its upper position entersa recess 106, see Figs. 11 und 12, in the Harige of bearing` member 103to ect as u positive lock or stop to hold the shuit 75 rigidly aga-instrotation until again released by the pin 91. A puirl 10.7 iiirotallyiiieiuited upon the bearing member 10?) and guided iii its movements bysaid iiiei'iiber 108 drops iii resi' of the stud 105 to preventnieve-nient ot the shaft 7 5 in reverse direction. 11n ejector arm orgate 78 carried rigidly by the shalt 75 und normally extendinT acrossthe rear end ol channel 36 rotates with slizil't 75 and its tended endpasses through the oilset 77 in the sliait G0 provided lor that purpose.The ejector gates 104C and 70 rotate with the knottei shaft, and utterthe l; undle has been tied and just before shaft 75 comple itsrotitioii, lii'st gate 10st strikes the upper portion ol the bundle andlater 78 flies no middle portion oit the bundle `While the lower end ofthe bundle is held by the ollset 1.051 in the lower guide nieiiiber 39to theel tes iy topple or eject the bundle from the reel.' end channel30, alter which the gate or arm oner- `ized by spring 119I springs bacl:into posi tion across the rear end el eliaiiiielo in ailvaiice of thegates 1044 and 7 The arin 95 and its liuli or folla' are ouin 89,seri/'e 'to engage opposite end ilu ei a notch in the collar $10 toloel: l

tue col..

to the collar 01 and gate 05 aad efzuse t it coller 90 and its iin :')lto rotate i* th lie .l2

ill i rom the esili the rieles un e, e tli its 6 b a ing against pin onthe Cain plate 97. is soon es shalt 75 commences to more it lorees thestud 9G out of tliepzith olI pin 98. gate continues in open positionuntil bundle has been ejected, alter which gate 95 energized by springv112 returns to its norn'ial position the resir end of the guide channel,the pins 291 and 292 again enter the notch 294, and the parte are resetiii position to lii't the cam plate 07 and shalt 75 to unelutch theshalt 75 li'oiii its driving' gear and to be noted upon by the nextbundle fed along the guide channel.

lii the ii'iodilieation Fig; 15, l have illust "ated 2i liiioi'itershalt 135 correspoiidine` to the shalt 75 to isliicli u driving gear 130is rigidly attached. A tubular shaft 138 is slrilined to and iiio ableto a limited extent eudu'ise upon the shalt 135 and has rigidly attachedthereto e Cain plete 139 corr spondand collar 102 oi Fig. 3 and shafts412u L10, and 60, to drive said shafts in 'olece or' the siiur gearsillustrated iii Figs.

1 ,El 8 ated iii Fie. 1, l preferably proal line of the harvester muy'ie aliiyusteil to end ilroiii each other to adapt he 1iarxester to useupon corn rows spaced t f n istaiiees apart, as :lor iustuiiee C nd Yrely to one or ot required.' Y sin herein sliou'i and (leleuileiuliliiiodiliea- Slfi' jhe 5 Q87 to enulile the lie-Elf;

hei oi sind 1. i. corn harvester eoiiiiirisiiigg' in-eriiauisin to severthe lern iii a row, slii'lit:V ble iiieluiii iiieinlieix (run-esilesides oli the corn rou' :ii'lziiilzell to liai'- rlowiiuui'dly und'toiwi'ai'r| inwiiied oiieifi 'e positions with their 1 i ward euessiipiiorleil upuii aiifl le ,eliile over le 'i un aiu Luiile he ou 1ouwith suill sei'eiidle po uh I iii-ame oli the harvester by saidharvester to sliii'l: iers from one position to i other.

il corn harvester comprising' n lniivesler i ie niovelile alone` i cornrow, corn severiieehenisin n'ii'uiiited upon said trui'ne, i

ine

lili) guide channel for the severed product leading from said severingmechanism and serving to conduct the severed product in an nprightposition from said severing mechanism, members to resiliently bear uponthe severed product in said guide channel to insure feeding of thesevered product in only one direction along said guide channel, ashoulder positioned in the rear end portion of said channel, a firstfeeding member operable in conjunction with said resilient members tointermittently feed the severed product away from the severing mechanismalong said guide channel, a second feeding member in the rear undoverlapping the ope ation of said first feeding member to intermittentlyfeed the severed product in separate bundles a further distance alongsaid guide chaiinel, means to bind said-bundles, and an ejector memberintermittently operable to engage the upper portion of said respectivebundles While the lower portion of said bundles are in engagement withthe shoulder in said channel to tilt and eject said bundles.

3. A corn harvester comprising mechanism to sever the corn in the row,mechanism to feed the severed corn away from said severing mechanism,pick-up members pivotally attached to the frame of the harvester atopposite sides ofthe corn rou7 and having downwardly and forwardlyinclined operative positions to guide the corn stalks into operativerelation to said severing mechanism and idle positions extendingupwardly from the harvester frame, and manually operable means to shiftsaid pick-up members from operative to idle position.

4. A corn harvester comprising a harvester frame movable along the cornrow, corn severing mechanism mounted upon said frame, a guide channelfor the severed product leading from said severing mechanism and servingto conduct the severed product in an upright position from said'severingmechanism, members to resiliently bear upon the severed product throughthe central portion of said guide channel thereby providing said chan-`nel with a restricted central portion and a wider rear end portion,having a shoulder to engage the lower end of the bundle to assist f inejecting the bundle,l a first feeding member operable to intermittentlyfeed the severed product away from said severing mechanism intoengagement With said resilient members, a second feeding member operableto intermittently take the severed product `from said first feedingmember and feed it in independent bundles along said guide channel,means to bind said bundles, and an ejector member intcrn'iittentloperable to engage the upper portion of sait: respective bundles whilethe lower' portion of said respective bundles are in engagement with ashoulder at the enlarged rear end portion of said guide channel to tiltand eject said bundles.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto `affixed my signature.

JOSEPH i

